US created ‘holy warriors’ in our tribal areas and then left them: Sartaj Aziz

Concluding a discussion on an adjournment motion in the Upper House, Sartaj Aziz was critical of the role the United States played in the Afghan jihad. Regarding a statement by US President Barack Obama in his State of the Union address, in which he claimed instability will continue in certain parts of the world including Pakistan, Sartaj Aziz said:-

“Pakistan’s answer to instability is the strengthening democracy in the country. The US created ‘holy warriors’ in our tribal areas during the ‘Afghan Jihad’ and then left them as soon as the war was over, a factor which contributed to decades of instability in Pakistan and the region,” he said.

He also said that Pakistan’s response would be to be more democratic, in the face of militancy. “Pakistan’s answer to instability is the strengthening democracy in the country,” he said. Sartaj also stated that as per Pakistan’s new policy, they would not take part in other countries’ wars and would not interfere in conflicts.

“We have decided that we are not going to indulge in fighting other countries’ wars now, and this policy is being pursued vigorously by the government. Pakistan has also taken a strong stance against terrorism. Operation Zarb-e-Azb in tribal areas and the operation against criminals in Karachi have helped improve the internal security situation of the country,” he said.